Apparatus for producing scenic effects.



No. 754,867. PATENTED MAR. 15, 1904. 13.0.HEALY.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SCENIC BFFEUTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- WI n E55 E51. Lu 1 LL 5;

PATENTED MAR. 15, 1904.

E. O. HBALY. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SCENIC EFFECTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 .10 MODEL.

filizg; i I W 3 WIAUEEB e5 A WMM UNITED STATES Patented March 15, 1904:.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR O. HEALY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GERARD VAN SCHAICK, OF HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SCENIC EFFECTS.

SIPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,867, dated March 15, 1904.

Application filed April 4, 1903. Serial No. 151,201. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDGAR OSCAR HEALY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Producing Scenic Effects, (Case A,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing scenic effects.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is simple and efficient wherein a variety of changing light effects are secured.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for producing rainbow or other similar stage efiects.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in plan, somewhat diagrammatic, of an apparatus embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, of the same. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified arrangement embraced within the spirit and scope of my invention. Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section of one of the convex reflecting-mirrors employed in the production of the light effects in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 5 is a detached detail view, parts broken off, of a form of shutter mechanism employed in connection with my invention. Fig. 6 is a broken detail view illustrating the arc effect of a beam of light projected upon a curtain in the production of the light effects in accordance with the principles of my invention.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever'it occurs throughout the several views.

In producing stage effects for theatrical performances with lights it has been found difficult, if not impossible, to effect life-like representations of auroras, rainbows, lightstreamers, and the like by projection upon a curtain. It has also been exceeding difficult, if not impossible, to secure any material range of variation in the light effects necessary to present in life-like variety moonlight or similar scenes with any degree of accuracy of reproduction or presentation.

It is among the special objects of my present'invention to provide an apparatus which is simple in the construction and arrangement of parts thereof, wherein a great variety of light effects are secured, wherein aurora, rainbow, moonlight, or other similar effects may be secured with facility and under the control and manipulation of a single attendant.

In carrying out my invention I employ one or more lanterns, which may be of the usual or any ordinary construction, such as are employed for projecting stereopticon views, and associate with such lanterns a system of mirrors so relatively arranged with respect to the lanterns and with respect to the canvas upon which the light effects are to be projected as to secure the variety or character of light effects desired.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference-signs A B Odesignate the lanterns. Any desired number of lanterns may be em ployed. I have shown only three, however, but do not desire to be limited in this respect.

D designates a concaved mirror arranged in such relation with respect to the lantern or lanterns A B O as to receive therefrom the light projected by such lanterns and to reflect such light from the concave face of such mirror.

E designates the curtain upon which the light effects are to be produced.

Fdesignates a convex mirror arranged in the forms of my invention (shown inFigs. 1 and 2) to receive the reflected light from mirror D and to reflect the same from the conv eXed surface thereof to and upon the curtain E. The light projected upon the concave mirror D from a lamp or lantern and from thence reflected directly upon the curtain E will present the appearance of a straight beam upon the curtain. However, by interposing the convex mirror F to receive the beam reflected from the concave mirror D and from which such beam is again reflected to the curtain the beam of light is projected upon the curtain in the form of an are, as indicated by dotted lines at G in Fig. 6. Of course it is to be understood that the concaved mirror D is silvered on its rear side or surface, and similarly the convexed mirror F is silvered on the under side thereof. I have found that similar effects are secured by substituting a double-concave lens or transparent glass H for the convexed mirror F, as shown in Fig. 3. In this arrangement the beam of light reflected from the concave mirror D is caused to pass through the transparent double-eoncaved glass H and thence to the curtain. In passing through the doubleconeaved lens or glass H, having concaved surfaces on opposite sides thereof, the beam of light is partially refracted and when projected upon the curtain assumes the are or bow shape indicated in Fig. 6. If desired, the lens or double-concaved transparent glass H may also serve the purpose of resolving the beam of light into its prismatic colors, thereby projecting upon the curtain E in are or bow shape the beam of light so resolved into its prismatic colors, hence producing a rainbow effect.

In order to secure greater variety of light effects, different colored slides are passed through the lanterns in the usual manner, thereby producing differently-colored light effects upon the curtain. In the particular form shown, to which, however, I do not desire to be limited, J designates a motor for actuating or operating the slides in the lanterns. This motor may be geared in any suitable manner and, as shown, to the shafts upon which are wound the slides in the ordinary manner. Ifdesired, the same motor J may drive the slide-actuating mechanism of all the lanterns by suitably coupling up the same by gearing, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. A shutter may be provided for each lantern, by which the light therefrom may be shut off. Such a shutter is indicated at K. Figs. 2 and 5, and provision may be made whereby the shutters of the several lanterns may be independently operated at will. I have shown a simple arrangement wherein each shutter is operated by an electromagnet L, a pivoted armature M being associated with each elec tromagnet and being pivotally connected to its associate shutter, so that when the magnet is energized the shutter will be closed. At N O I, I have shown conventional forms of switches for controlling at will the circuits of the various magnets L. I have also shown a conventional switch Q for controlling the circuit of motor J. After the apparatus is once placed in proper relative relation and position a single attendant by manipulating switches N O P Q can introduce any desired variety in the light effects to be produced. Thus the attendant may set in motion the motor J by which the slides of the various lanterns are actuated, and he may then close one after the other or in any desired order the switches N O I and as often as desired, thereby securing the desired variety of light effects. Thus if a slide of lantern A is red, while that of B is blue and that of C is white, by alternately manipulating the various switches N O I a wavering light effect is produced, which if rcflected directly upon the curtain from the concave mirror D will present a straight bar of wavering and variously-colored beam, thereby producing the effect of moonlight dancing on the surfaceof placid water; or by interposing a convexed reflecting-mirror F this variegated, wavering, and varyingly-colored light effect will be thrown upon the curtain in are or bow shape, thereby giving the effect of a flickering aurora. In the same manner cloud effects or moonlight effects are produced, and by employing red slides in the lanterns fire effects are similarly produced. The same result may be produced by making the lens H of red material or by making the silvered backing of mirror D of red reflecting material or otherwise interposing a red refl ecting-surface.

Ifdesired, the relative inclinations of the lantern and mirrors may be adjusted in any simple, suitable, or convenient manner in order to place the projected light upon the curtain at any desired point. In the particular form shown, to which, however, my invention is not to be limited or restricted, the reflecting-111irror D may be angularly adjusted and held in adjusted position in a supportingframe R by means of an adjusting segmentplate S, and, similarly, mirror F may be provided at one edge thereof with adjustingfeet T, and the lanterns may be provided with adjusting-feet IV for a similar purpose.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide an exceedingly simple arrangement of apparatus for securing the desired. light effects and variations therein. The apparatus is inexpensive and is easily handled and placed in relative positions, and the entire manipulation may be effected by a single attendant at a convenient point by suitably and properly controlling the circuit-controlling switches N O I Q.

It will be understood that the apparatus will be arranged behind the drop-curtain I the audience viewing in front of the curtain the light effects projected thereon from be.- hind it.

It is obvious that instead of using the ordinary stereopticon-lanterns any other suitable source of light may be employed in connection with means for varying the color of the light produced and for projecting the same upon the reflecting-mirror D. It is also obvious that the mirror D may be placed sidewise or endwise or in any other desired position to secure variations in the light effects to .be produced.

It is obvious that many other variations and changes in the details of construction and arrangement would readily occur, to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and a construction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus for producing theatrical light effects, the combination with a lantern, of a concaved mirror upon which the light from the lantern is reflected, and a convexed mirror arranged to receive the light reflected from said concaved mirror, and a curtain arranged to receive the reflection of the light from said convexed mirror, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus for producing theatrical light effects, the combination with a curtain, of a concaved mirror arranged behind said curtain and to reflect light toward the same a conveXed mirror arranged to reflect light from said concaved mirror to said curtain, and a lantern arranged to project light upon said 3. In an apparatus for producing theatrical I light effects, the combination with a lantern, of a mirror upon which the light from such lantern is projected, a curtain arranged to receive the reflected light from such mirror, and means arranged in the line of travel of the light and interposed between the reflectingmirror and the curtain to receive the light from such mirror, said means operating to convert said light into are or bowed form before falling upon the curtain, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus for producing theatrical light effects, the combination with a plurality of lanterns, a reflecting-mirror upon which the light from said lanterns is projected, a curtain, said mirror operating to reflect the light toward said curtain, a convexed mirror ar ranged to receive the light reflected from said first-mentioned mirror and to reflect the same to the curtain, each of said lanterns provided with a shutter, and means for opening and closing said shutters independently and at will, as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 31st day of March, 1903, in the pres- I ence of the subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR O. HEALY.

Witnesses:

C. H. SEEM, E. C. SEMPLE. 

